Gun firing solenoid



GUN FIRING SOLENOID 2 Sheets'Sheet 1 Filed may 11, v1942 Y 47g film/022 XX 572m 1945. B. E. SHAW 2,383,088

" GUN FIRING SOLENOID Filed May 11, 1942 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 49% T k f7 2 IWUIHIII I l" \I I v Ii,

Q? IIlHllIiiiiilllllflllllllllllllllllllllllll!LJ IIHIHMmmmmm 1 'il HIIHIIIIIIUEII ill llllf'llllllll unmuu! I 52 220 Eda Patented Aug. 21, 1945 I I 2,383,088 GUN FIRING SOLENOID Burton E. Shaw, Bristol, Ind., assignor to Penn Electric Switch Co., Goshen, Ind., a corpora- UNITED STATES, PATENT oFFicE I v tion of Iowa Application May 11, 1942, Serial No. 442,45s 7 Claims. (01. s9-2s) My present invention relates to a solenoidde- I 2 a mounting plate therefor. The housing In signed for firing large machine guns, particularly and its mounting plate [2 may be formedall of where" several banks of machine guns, each blank one casting with suitable reinforcing ribs, as ilincluding several machine guns, are to be fired lustrated, and mounting holes l3 through which simultaneously and in quick succession from a bolts or lag screws may be projected into a sup-.- centrally controlled point. porting surface for rigidly mounting the housing One object of my invention is to provide a gun with respect thereto. The housing I ll'is open at firing solenoid so designed as to provide a maxione side, and a cover plate I4 is provided for the mum of power with a minimum of weight. open side. The cover plate I4 is secured in posiaAnother object is to provide .a, un firing sole- :19 tion by four cap ,SCIeWs l5 entering threaded noid which is fool-proof in operation and entirely openings l5 in the housing I0. A gasket It is protected against moisture or water entering the located in a routed groove l6 for sealing-the cover mechanism thereof. plate I4 with respect to the housing l0. Still a furtherobject is to provide for ready W th n the housing l0 Iprovide a solenoid core renewal of parts with a minimum of expenditure which has the shape shown inFigure 5.v The of time. core 20 includes a top cross arm 37, side arms Still a further object is to provide a gun firing 31*? and inward projections 37 atv the lower end solenoid'which permits the ready changing of a w h p id a u -away p rt n. pposite the bellows for the'actuating stem thereof from the ay portion the core 20 extends downwardly outside of the housing for the solenoid and to in the form of a stop portion 24. 1A plunger guide provide a convenient arrangement for gaining tube 36, madeofnon-ferrous material, surrounds access to the wirin for making connections the stop portion and passes down through the thereof to the terminals which are well exposed C way portion of h core between-the inward to view-when a'water-tight cover plate on the extension 31' thereof, as best shown'in-Figured;

housing is removed. The solenoid -core20ismade upof a plurality With these and other objects in view, my inof laminae, preferably thin high silicon steel stock vention consists in the construction, arrangement o the proper shape to form a core of the kind and combination of the variousparts of my device illustrated in Figure 5. ;No attempt. has been whereby the objects contemplated are attained, made to show just'where, each lamina'is cutoin as-hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out .80 order to be stacked into a core of the shape illusin my claims and illustrated in the accompanying trated when the core is built around the solenoid drawings. Although the invention is susceptible i s d their S pporting spools 35 in the usual of a variety of embodiments, it is unnecessary to manner. y l fully describe and illustrate more than one in The stack of core laminae is "provided at each order to give, a full understanding of the inven- 35 end with relatively heavyv end plates Bil, as best tion "both from its structural and functional shown in Figures 3 and 4, which plates are of the standpoints. Accordingly, I have illustrated a same shape as the core-20 (see F'igure'5l... Two

preferred and desirable embodiment of the inpairs of brackets I!) are mounted on opposite sides vention in the accompanying drawings, in which: of the end-plate 60 and have attaching feet l9 Figure 1 is an end elevation of a gun firing solethe brackets being secured to the end plates, 68 noidembodying my invention; and the core26 by a plurality of rivets 2| and 22..

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 The attaching'feet 19* rest on bosses 18 projectthereof showing the parts within the housing in ing from the wall of the housing ill opposite the plan view; r cover plate I 4 and are secured thereto by screws Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional View on the 5 l1 threaded into the'bosses. The bore 20 is thus line 3-5-3 fof Figurex2, showing the cover plate rigidly mounted within the housing ID. 1 I of the housing removed and the bellows for the The plunger guide tube 36 has slidably mounted actuating stem in section; therein a plunger 40 consisting of a plurality of Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the laminae covered on opposite Sides by nd p a es line 4 -4 of Figure 2, showing a cross-section .50 25. The endplates 25 and the laminae 46 are through the core; plunger and solenoid coil; and secured together as a unit by five countersunk riv- Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the soleets 26. noid: core, plunger'and plunger guide tube. The plunger 40 has a pair of stop shoulders 28 On-th'e accompanying drawings I have used the between which a socket is formed'to receive an referenceinumeral I0 to indicate a housing, and eye 29 of an actuating stem 30; A 'pivot'pi 2! extends through the plunger, its socket and the end 29, and is suitably retained in position by cotter pins, whereby it may be removed when necessary for any reason. The actuating stem 30 extends through an opening HZI in the housing I0, and is provided at its outer end with a yoke or fork 32 pivoted at a pivot pin 33 to a. bell crank 3 I. The bell. crank 31 is pivotedon a pin 42 carried by a pair of ears 4| extending from the mounting base 12, and the bell crank lever carries a pivot pin 44 in one of its arms. A fork 43 is pivoted to the pin 44 and a Second fork 45 has a shank 4B The shank 46 may be adjusted in the fork 43, and the adjustment thereafter retained by a lock nut 41;'

For sealing the actuating stem 30 with respect to the housing I0 I provide a resilient bellows 46.

formed of rubber or similar material. The bellows 46 has a constricted end .41 snugly fitted into a groove 30 'of the actuatingv stem: 30;. Its other endis flared outwardly, asindicated at469, and

terminates in a-reinforcing head 48. The reinforcing bead 48 is retained incompressed. condition against an end of the housing Ill covering the opening ll) therein by a removable flange member 4 9. ScrewsSltextend through the flange member into the housing lfl'to-retainit in-positiontocompress the bellows bead 48.

A terminal block l'il is mounted on the core by means of countersunk screws 51* extending into threaded openings 5i or: the core (see Figures 3 and 5). Terminals 5 1 for the coils 34 are mounted thereon, the terminals being suitably connected with the. coils by means of: leads (not shown).

A boss 48 is screw threadedly mounte -in one wall: of'thehousing I 0 tore'ceive an armored cable 49 The cable 4'3 'is packed relative to. the boss 48 by' means of packing 52- and a packing nut 53. Thus the cable is connected withthe housing Hi bymeansofa water-tight joint. v The cable 49 has leads 50 which are suitably connected with the terminals 51 which connections have not been shown, as they are conventional and would interfere with the illustration oi? other parts of the device.

Duringassembly ofthe laminae that make up thecore ZO-the twocoils are assembled inthei'r proper position on the plunger guidetube 36 and the lower end: of the lower spool 35 rests against the inward extensions 31 A pair of retainer springs 38 of the shape shown in Figure 4' are assembled with the coils 34 between the extensions 31 and the upper leg 31 of the coil. The retainer springs 38. accordingly bias-the coils 34 in a. downward direction to retainthem assembled under spring pressure.

A solenoid of the construction illustrated and described I have found to be extremely powerful for its weight and for the current capacity of the coils 34. The solenoid, accordingly,'has a maximum of efficiency, which isa very desirable characteristic from thestandpoint of its intended use. The solenoid spools 35 are preferably formed of molded bakelite or a phenolic composition-,- and thewire for the coils 3.4" is preferably of enameled type wherein the enamel has. ahigh degree of electrical insulation efiiciency. The: leads .ill? from the cable 49 are preferably: enclosed in spaghetti tubing where they" extendfroma linen wrapping at the inner end of the cable 49* to the M terminals 5|. All of these features, together with the use ofmany; laminae. ofthin: section and formed of high silicon'steel, results-in a maximum threadedly mounted in the fork 43;.

of pull when the coils 34 are energized, and a minimum of residual magnetism and electrical trouble.

To make the operation of the solenoid as quiet as possible, a shading ring 33 surrounds the plunger 40 adjacent the upper end thereof and is located beyond the side plates 25 of the plunger. The coils, when energized, hold the. plunger inwardly until the projections 28 engage the eX- tensions 3'1 simultaneously with engagement of the upper end of the plunger with the stop portion 24 of the core, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. When the coils are deenergized, the mechanism for. firing the gun which 18' connected with the fork 45 pulls the parts again to the position of Figures 1,2 and 3, due to gun firing mechanism.

a spring or weight in the spect to the housing H] where access can be readily had to it for periodic inspection, as it is important that no fracture be'permitted; to develop in. the bellows; When it is desirable to renew the: bellows, the screws/ 50, the, coverplate l4 and the. pin 2:! may be removed so. that; the bellows can be taken; off the stem 35: and passed up through the opening 1-0.; A new bellows may then; be quickly substituted; The. wiringzfor. the coils34 i readily accessible. by. the removal of the single cover plate l4".

Someqchanges. may be made in the construction. and; arrangement of the parts ofv my device without departing" from the real; spirit and purpose of my invention, and it. ismyi-Iintention to cover bymy claims. any modifiediforms of structure,. or useof. mechanical. equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope;

. I claim as. my invention:

1 In. a. gun firing solenoid, a housing, a re= movable" water-tight cover plate therefor, a solenoid core mounted in. said. housing, a solenoid coil. for said core; aterminali block on. said core adjacentsaid cover plate, a. cable receivingibcss on said housing, a cable through: said boss: for connection to said terminal. block, packing in said boss to form a water-tight joint-between said cable and: boss; a plunger slidably: mounted in said solenoid: coil; an actuating stem pivotally connected'with said plunger, said: housing: having an opening: through which said actuating: stem extends to= the exterior of said? housing, a resilient bellows surrounding said actuating stem exterior. of said housing andhaving its outer and sealed; to: said: stem,. a retainer: flange; removably mounted. on said housing for: sealing: the inner end: (if said bellows: to: said housing, a bell crank pivoted to said housing, said outer end of said actuating: stem being pivoted to-one armof said a a cablereceiving. boss. on said housing, av cable through said boss for connection to said" terminal block, aplunger slidably mounted in said solenoid' core, an actuatingstem connected with said plunger, saidhousinghaving an opening throug-h which said actuating stem extends-tothee'xteflor of said housing/a. resilientbellowssurrounding said: actuating stem. exterior'of. said housing and having its: outer end sealed. to; said stem, a retainer flange: removably mounted; on said housing for sealingthe irmerrend' of said bellowsto said housing, a bell crank pivdtedtwsaidhousing, said outer end. of said; actuating. stem being pivplunger, said housing having an vbead of said bellows oted to one arm of said bell crank, and an operating link pivoted to the other arm of said bell crank.

3. In a gun firing solenoid, a housing, a solenoid core mounted in said housing, a plunger tube in said core, a solenoid coil in said core, a plunger slidably mounted in said plunger tube, an actuating stem pivotally connected with said opening through which said actuating stem extends to the ex,- terior of said housing, a resilient bellows surrounding said actuating stem and projecting exterior of said housing, said bellows having beads on its outer and inner ends, said stem having a groove receiving the outer bead to seal the bellows to the stem, and a retainer flange removably mounted on said housing and receiving said inner for sealing the inner end of the bellows to said housing.

4. In a solenoid of the character disclosed, a housing, a solenoid core mounted in said housing, a plunger slidably mounted relative thereto, an actuating stem connected with said plunger, said housing having an opening through which said actuating stem extends .to the exterior of said housing, a resilient bellows surrounding said actuating stem exterior of said housing and hav ing its outer end sealed to said stem and its inner end provided with an open base portion having a peripheral bead against said housing, a removable washer-like retainer for said base havin an annular groove facing said housing and receiving said bead and operating mechanism connected with the outer end of said actuating stem. 5. In a solenoid structure, a housing, a removable water-tight cover plate therefor, a solenoid coil mounted in said housing, a terminal block in said housing adjacent said cover plate, a cable receiving boss on said housing, a cable through said boss for connection to said terminal block, packing in said boss to form a water-tight joint between said cable and boss, a plunger slidably mounted in said solenoid coil, an actuating stem connected with said plunger, said housing having an opening through which said actuating stem extends to the exterior of said housing, means for sealing said'actuating stem relative to said housing, a bell crank pivoted to said housing, said outer end of said actuating stem being pivoted to one arm of said bell crank, and an operating link pivoted to the other arm of said bell crank.

6. A solenoid of the character disclosed comprising a housing, a solenoid core mounted in said housing, a plunger tube therein, a solenoid coil mounted on said plunger tube against one portion of said core, a spring retainer strip interposed between said coil and another portion of .said core to keep the coil engaged with said first portion of the core, a plunger slidably mounted in said plunger tube, said core having a stop portion extending into said plunger tube, said plunger having stop shoulders adjacent its outer end for engaging said core simultaneously with the inner end of the plunger engaging said stop portion of said core, a shading ring around the inner end of said plunger, an actuating stem connected with said plunger and extending from said housing, and a resilient bellows surrounding said actuating stem exterior of said housing and having its outer end sealed to said stem and its innerend sealed to said housing, 8

7. A gun firing solenoid of the class disclosed comprising a housing, a cover plate therefor, a solenoid core mounted in said housing, a plunger guide in said core, a plungerslidable in said plunger guide, said housing having mounting bosses therein opposite said cover plate, end plates for said core having feet attached to said mounting bosses, an to said plunger, said housing having an opening for said actuating stem to extend to the exterior of said housing, and a resilient bellows surrounding said stem and having one end connected with said housing and its other end connected with said stem in water-tight relation to the housing and stem.

BURTON E. SHAW.

actuating stem connected 

